The Beatles or Elvis Presley. Debergs prog rock thread started me thinking and I thought it was a fairly easy choice until I talked to a few others about it and looked up some numbers. Now it seems like a toss up... although I know what my original gut feeling was.

The Beatles...
Best selling band in history... roughly 1 billion 600 million units sold
22 #1 singles world wide
7 grammys
10 films

Elvis was an entertainer. He was absolutely amazing and the best entertainer since Frank, but an entertainer, nonetheless. Once Elvis got out of the Army, his popularity waned so he turned to movies.

After The Beatles split, they became even more popular. Each of them had successful solo careers and were loved by billions.

There people to this day all over the world that reference The Beatles in their works, whether it's Soundgarden or Coldplay or Oasis or any number of million selling acts (not to mention all the acts in the 60's and 70's. Oh, and Tears for Fears, etc. and so on).

There are very few, if any artists/songwriters that wake up and say "I wanna be like Elvis".

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

Not only that but it's a weird question to ask the fanbase of a midwestern football team, 99% of whom do not work in the music business as songwriters, musical artists, producers or engineers.

THOSE people will provide the real answer.

This is the first time I've ever wanted to kick yer' nuts up 'round your ears...

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Quote:

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

it's silly because comparing one guy to four isn't realistic.
Like Johhny Cash, EP is in rnr, country and gospel HOF's. that alone speaks to a broader range of influence.

You're right: It's really silly. Elvis and The Beatles inspired countless millions (if not billions, seriously) to pick up an instrument and learn to sing or play.

Only a teeny-weeny fraction of those people were then able to turn those influences into commercially viable music for everyone else to enjoy.

Personally, Elvis ranks infinitely higher for me than The Beatles. But I have to acknowledge that I know way more people in the field of music that were inspired and continue to be inspired by The Beatles to this day.

The bottom line is that they were both groundbreaking and amazing acts and we're fortunate to have been able to enjoy their works.

There's way more to this than just what Hollywood engineers think. They are far from the only people who are allowed to be influenced by the music of the Beatles, or Elvis, or Zeppelin, or anyone really. Think of how many people learned how to play guitar, piano, or learned how to sing because they were moved by the music of some of these bands. But maybe that's misreading the question.

There's way more to this than just what Hollywood engineers think. They are far from the only people who are allowed to be influenced by the music of the Beatles, or Elvis, or Zeppelin, or anyone really. Think of how many people learned how to play guitar, piano, or learned how to sing because they were moved by the music of some of these bands. But maybe that's misreading the question.

Right and I mentioned that. And it's not just Hollywood engineers. It's every engineer or producer in the world.

You're right: It's really silly. Elvis and The Beatles inspired countless millions (if not billions, seriously) to pick up an instrument and learn to sing or play.

Only a teeny-weeny fraction of those people were then able to turn those influences into commercially viable music for everyone else to enjoy.

Personally, Elvis ranks infinitely higher for me than The Beatles. But I have to acknowledge that I know way more people in the field of music that were inspired and continue to be inspired by The Beatles to this day.

The bottom line is that they were both groundbreaking and amazing acts and we're fortunate to have been able to enjoy their works.

Here is the problem.. Elvis Costello has done it all. His music spans so many different styles and genres that it's hard to just say "start here." BUT at least we have a starting point with "Just a Memory." That came from Get Happy! his 4th album. That song is slower than the typical songs on that album. So if you want that style, you will want to go forward in time with his work rather than going back. That style is closer (imho) to Trust or what is often considered the greatest EC album (produced by Geoff Emerick) Imperial Bedroom.

If you want I can suggest some favorite songs and see if they are on YouTube. Oh, another good "starter" album I have found is King of America. it really defines the "middle" of his career for me and is just a damn good album.

my advice to you sir it to either get a life or start drinking heavily.